The prevalence of neutropenia and association with infections in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a Swedish single-center study conducted over 14  years

AbstractHematologic abnormalities are common manifestations of SLE, although neutropenia is observed less frequently and is not included in the classification criteria. Nonetheless, neutropenia is a risk factor for infections, especially those caused by bacteria or fungi. We aimed to evaluate the impact of neutropenia in SLE through a systematic investigation of all infections in a large cohort of well-characterized patients, focusing on neutropenia, lymphopenia, and hypocomplementemia. Longitudinal clinical and laboratory parameters obtained at visits to the Rheumatology Unit, Link öping University Hospital, and linked data on all forms of healthcare utilization for all the subjects included in our regional SLE register during 2008–2022 were assessed. Data regarding confirmed infections were retrieved from the medical records. Overall, 333 patients were included and monitor ed during 3,088 visits to a rheumatologist during the study period. In total, 918 infections were identified, and 94 occasions of neutropenia (ANC <  1.5 × 109/L) were detected in 40 subjects (12%). Thirty neutropenic episodes in 15 patients occurred in association with infections, of which 13 (43%) required in-hospital care, 4 (13%) needed intensive care, and 1 (3%) resulted in death. Bayesian analysis showed that patients with  ≥ 1 occasion of neutropenia were more likely to experience one or more infections (OR = 2.05; probability of association [POA] = 96%). Both invasiven...
Source: Rheumatology International - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research